“Shark week,” Ava adds, much to my disgust.
“That’s disgusting,” Amelia expresses while cringing. “The only perk to being pregnant is not having your periods for like a year.”
“Here, here,” Ava brags. “So, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Alexa states, still avoiding everyone.
The older three look at each other, but something passes between them. I expect they’ll ambush Alexa again any minute, but Charlotte announces dinner is ready, prompting everyone to take a seat.
We all take a spot at the table, then Ashton announces he wants to say grace. His small but confident voice is heard all around us, bringing our family together.
As I look around, I’m overwhelmed by the emotion of feeling incredibly blessed. I reach out to touch Charlotte's hand as she glances at me with a loving gaze. We may have done many things wrong, but those mistakes led us here.
“So, Masen and I have set a date for the wedding,” Addison announces with excitement. “It’s nine months from now, and if Mom and Dad are okay with it, we’d love to have the ceremony at our chateau in France.”
“Of course, honey,” Charlotte assures her. “It’s beautiful in spring—”
“Hold on,” Ava interrupts. “Nine months because…”
“Because it’s the only time we can get a whole six weeks off,” Addison quickly interjects.
“There’s no baby.” Masen glares at Ava, setting the record straight. “Work is hectic. We’ve just acquired another publishing house. It’s hard enough taking care of the damn bearded dragon Addison insisted we buy.”
“Hey, don’t talk bad about Mr. Hemsworth. He’s been nothing but good to you,” Addison chastises.
Amelia begins to laugh. “You ended up calling him that?”
“Bearded dragons are native to Australia. It was only fitting his name represented an Aussie.”
“A handsome Aussie,” Ava quips.
“Okay, stop now before this conversation falls into the Hemsworth brother’s rabbit hole again,” Will complains.
I take a sip of the wine Charlotte poured, then clear my throat. “The chateau will be perfect. I’ll make sure my schedule is clear.”
The girls begin to talk about wedding plans which, frankly, bores me. I engage in conversation with Austin as he talks about what’s happening with work. Even though I chose not to follow a career in medicine, I live vicariously through his stories. A part of me wishes one of the girls studied to be a doctor, but all of them freaked out when it came to anything medical. For the better part, Addison is the closest to the medical field.
Our conversation is short-lived as the kids grow bored and begin interrupting all the adults. Charlotte manages to get them to behave with the promise of dessert.
After dessert is served, it’s obvious the kids are heading downhill. Will and Amelia are the first to leave, then Austin and Ava. Masen and Addison stick around for a bit but then head over to Haden and Presley’s for a nightcap.
I welcome the silence when everyone is gone, taking a deep breath and enjoying the summer's night. That is until I notice Alexa sitting alone at the table. It’s unusual, given she’s the first to disappear to her bedroom. While cleaning up the table, Charlotte glances at me with curiosity but then places the plates down.
“Is everything okay, honey?”
Alexa’s hands spread out on the table, unable to look at either one of us. She lets out a small breath while straightening her shoulders with a strong stance.
“Can you both sit down for a moment? There’s something I want to tell you.”
I take a seat beside Charlotte, knowing whatever I’m about to hear will not be music to my ears. If she’s been unable to talk to me for this long, it’s highly unlikely she’s going to say something pleasant.
“I’ve decided not to go to college.”
The bile rises in my throat, the same time my chest tightens. I try to control my emotions, remembering Charlotte's wise words, but anger is a beast that can’t always be tamed.
“Alexa,” Charlotte stammers, “I… I don’t understand where this is coming from?”
“This is coming from someone who doesn’t want to go to college,” she responds coldly. “Just because my sisters went doesn’t mean I have to.”